The current prediction for Sunspot Cycle 24 gives a smoothed sunspot number maximum of about 69 in the Fall of 2013. The smoothed sunspot number has already reached 67 (in February 2012)due to the strong peak in late 2011 so the official maximum will be at least this high and this late.

We are currently over four years into Cycle 24. The current predicted and observed size makes this the smallest sunspot cycle since Cycle 14 which had a maximum of 64.2 in February of 1906.

I have recovery time on my hands - still in process - so I am more likely to come across stuff like this.

In case, you know, you wondered.

Update:

Oh wait . . .

Should that be something's down?

Sunspots confuse me, as does just about everything else since I came down with the flu over the weekend.

I mean, that thing with the police - turns out it wasn't mid-evening on Saturday, as I had thought, bur rather at 3:00 A.M. Sunday morning - at a time when I was well and truly floored by my plight, in need of a pick-me-up in the worst way.